Strip metering mechanisms for advancing film in a film pack

ABSTRACT

Strip metering mechanisms for successively advancing predetermined increments of film from a roll of film in a film pack adapted for use in a camera of the instant processing type. Such cameras use conventional film packs and do not have a film roll advancing facility. The metering mechanisms comprise a metering strip coupled to a roll of film and adapted when pulled out of the camera a predetermined increment to actuate an audio signal generating device or to lock the film and/or strip to prevent further film advance. The audible signal or strip and/or film lock-up is achieved by notches and ramps in the strip and/or film which actuate the audio signal generating mechanism or the strip and film locking mechanism. The signal is generated, or the strip and/or film locked at the instant that the film has been advanced sufficiently to locate a predetermined increment of film in a correct exposure position.

llnite States Patent 1 Kamp et al.

[ 51 May 29, R973 [54] STRIP METERING MECHANISMS FOR ADVANCING FILM IN AFILM PACK [75] Inventors: Leonard F. Kamp, Rochester; William P. Ewald,Webster, both of [73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company,

Rochester, NY.

[22] Filed: June 24, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 156,253

[52] US. Cl. ..95/31 FM, 95/31 R, 226/127,

- 242/57 [51] Int. Cl. ..G03b 17/18 [58] Field of Search ..242/57;33/136;

95/13, 31 FM;226/l27, 128,129

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,557,297 6/1951 Lea.;.95/6O X 3,324,778 6/1967 Everett.... ....95/34 R 3,682,065 8/1972Ewald ..95/3l FM 2,935,004 5/1960 Eburn ..95/13 3,148,605 9/1964Petersom. ..95/3l FM 1,535,930 MacDonald ..95/31 FM PrimaryExaminerGeorge F. Mautz Assistant Examiner-Edward J. McCarthyAttorney-William T. French, Robert F. Crocker and Steve W. Gremban [5 7ABSTRACT Strip metering mechanisms for successively advancingpredetermined increments of film from a roll of film in a film packadapted for use in a camera of the instant processing type. Such camerasuse conventional film packs and do not have a film roll advancingfacility. The metering mechanisms comprise a metering strip coupled to aroll of film and adapted when pulled out of the camera a predeterminedincrement to actuate an audio signal generating device or to lock thefilm and/0r strip to prevent further film advance. The audible signal orstrip and/or film lock-up is achieved by notches and ramps in the stripand/or film which actuate the audio signal generating mechanism or thestrip and film locking mechanism. The signal is generated, or the stripand/or film locked at the instant that the film has been advancedsufficiently to locate a predetermined increment of film in a correctexposure position.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAYZQ'QYB 3.735.682

SHEET 1 BF 3 LEONARD F KAMP W/LL/AM R EWALD INVENTORS A TTORNE Y PATEMU-1, m 2 9197s SHEET 2 OF 3 LEONARD F KAMP WILL/AM P [WALD INVENTOR5JZQ M ATTORNEY PATENTEUHAYEEBIQH SHEET 3 BF 3 WILLIAM R EWALD LEONARD FKAMP A 7' TORNE Y STRIP METERING MECHANISMS FOR ADVANCING FILM IN A FILMPACK CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is made tocommonly assigned copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 35,784,entitled Photographic Film Pack, filed in the name of William P.

Ewald, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 156,252,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates generally to film advancing and metering mechanisms for camerasor the like, and more specifically to strip metering mechanisms forsuccessively advancing predetermined increments of film from a roll offilm in a film pack or the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art Cameras of the instant processing typewhich use film packs are well known in the art. Such cameras are adaptedto receive conventional film packs of the type which are insertable intothe camera. Such film packs normally comprise an assemblage of filmunits, each unit comprising a photosensitive sheet and a print receivingsheet in which a leader is attached to each film unit at a positionspaced from the leading end of the film unit. The leader protrudes fromthe camera and is pulled to advance the leading end of the first filmunit between pressure applying members. At this point, the leaderdetaches from the film unit and the leading end of the film unit ismanually grasped and pulled for advancing the film unit through thepressure applying members. This advances the succeeding film unit to anexposure position with a portion of its leader protrudin g from thecamera. Since such cameras use film packs of the described type, they donot need and hence do not have a window in the back of the camerathrough which numbers on a film can be viewed. In addition, such camerasdo not need and hence are not equipped with means for advancing filmfrom a supply roll of film to a take-up spool. Accordingly, in order toadapt such cameras to handle a film roll and take-up spool, it isnecessary to solve the problem of how to advance and meter the film tolocate successive unexposed increments of the film in a correct positionfor exposure. One solution to this problem is presented in film packsdescribed in the aforementioned copending patent applications Ser. No.35,784, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,065 and Ser. No. 156,252. Thisapplication is'directed to another solution involving strip meteringmechanisms for advancing successive increments of film in roll form froma film pack or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE'INVENTION an audible signal generating mechanism whichindicates by an audible signal that the film has been advanced a properpredetermined increment for an exposure. ln another embodiment of theinvention,- the metering strip actuates a locking mechanism which locksthe metering strip at the instant that the film has been advanced aproper predetermined increment for exposure. In still another embodimentof the invention, the metering strip and film actuate a lockingmechanism for preventing further advance of the strip and film at theinstant that the film has been advanced a predetermined increment forexposure.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide astrip metering mechanism for actuating mechanisms to indicate that apredetermined increment of film has been advanced to a correct positionfor exposure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strip metering mechanismthat generates an audible signal at the instant that a predeterminedincrement of film has been advanced to a correct position for exposure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strip metering mechanismfor actuating a locking mechanism for preventing further advance of thestrip and/or film at the instant that a predetermined increment of the'film has been advanced to a correct position for exposure.

The invention and its objects and advantages will become more apparentfrom the detailed description of the preferred embodiments presentedbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING film pack utilizing one embodiment ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged segmental perspective view of a portion of thestructure of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3 is a segmental, perspective view illustrating another embodimentof a strip metering mechanism of this invention in an unlocked position;

FIG. 4 is a segmental top plan view illustrating still anotherembodiment of a strip metering mechanism of this invention in anunlocked position; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the mechanism of FIG. 4.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIGS. 1 and2, one embodiment of the strip metering mechanism is shown incombination with a film pack of the type for use in cameras of theinstant processing type. The film pack essentially comprises a casing10, a roll film metering assembly 12, and a cover 14. The casing 10 hasan aperture 16 through which a film 18 of the roll film meteringassembly 12 may be exposed, and parallel, spaced ribs 20, 21 on eachside of aperture 16 having paired cut-outs 22a-e for supporting the rollfilm metering assembly 12. The cut-outs 22c are adapted to providebearing support for an axle 23 of a roll 24 of conventional photographicfilm 18. The film roll 24 may have a cover sheet leader and trailer, notshown, to protect the film from exposure when the film pack is out ofthe camera. Guide bars 26, 28 serve to hold film 18 flat within theexposure plane, and such guide bars are supported within cut-outs 22cand 22d respectively. After exposure, the film 18 is wound onto atake-up spool 30 having an axle 32 which is supported within cut-outs22a. A pinion gear 34 is mounted on axle 32 and is adapted to mesh witha metering drive gear 36 on a drive shaft 38 supported within cut-outs22b.

In order to advance successive predetermined increments of unexposedfilm 18 in correct register with the exposure aperture 16, the film packis provided with one embodiment of a strip metering mechanism as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2 comprising a metering strip 42 wound in roll form 43 onaxle 38. The strip extends through an opening 45 in casing 10, and isprovided with notches 44 along one edge, one notch for each length offilm to be advanced, and each notch 44 has a shoulder portion 46 and aramp portion 48 for actuating an audible signal generating mechanism 50when strip 42 is pulled. The audible signal generating mechanism 50comprises a helical spring 52 having one end secured to the casing and aclapper 54 on its opposite end adapted to ride on the edge of strip 42.When the strip is pulled to advance an unexposed length of film 18 inregister with the exposure aperture 16, the ramp portion 48 initiallycams the clapper 54 outwardly tensioning spring 52, and the strip edgereleases the clapper when shoulder portion 46 is moved past the end ofclapper 54. The released clapper 54 swings inwardly striking a metalbell 56 secured to casing 10 indicating the the film 18 has beenadvanced a correct length and that the strip 42 should not be moved anyfurther. The strip is further provided with indicia 58 in the form ofnumbers to indicate the number of the exposure to be made. The notches44 in strip 42 are longitudinally spaced apart different distances tocompensate for the gradually increasing diameter of film 18 on take-upspool 30, and the decreasing diameter of the strip roll 43 on shaft 38,and thus assuring that the exposure frames will be evenly spaced alongthe length of film 18.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, parts similar toparts illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be denoted by the same numeralsprimed. In this embodiment, the roll film metering assembly is similarto the assembly 12 shown in FIG. 1, and the metering strip 42' comprisesa plurality of pull tabs 60 in which the leading and trailing ends ofsuccessive tabs are placed in overlapped relation and releasably sealedtogether at 61 by any suitable means such as cement or ultrasonically.The leading end 59 of each tab 60 is provided with indicia 58 in theform of numerals indicating the number of the exposure to be made. Inthis embodiment, the leading end 59 of each tab'60 is provided with anotch 62 along one edge, and the corresponding trailingend 63 of aleader in the case of the first tab or of a leading tab in the case ofsucceeding adjacent tabs is provided with an edge notch 64, showndotted, in register with notch 62. Notch 64 has a ramp portion 66, andthe notches 62, 64 act in concert to control a locking mechanism 68. Thelocking mechanism comprises a plate 70 that is guided for reciprocal andpivotal movement by a support shelf 72 and guide slot 74 in the casing10. One end of plate has a substantially elliptical projection 76extending into slot 74 to permit pivotal and longitudinal movement ofplate 70,.and its opposite end provided with a downwardly extending arm78 which is biased by a spring 80"into engagement with one edge of strip42. Accordingly, when strip 42' is pulled to advance film 18, the arm 78enters notches 62, 64 just before the film is advanced a correctincrement to place an unexposed area of film 18 in register withexposure aperture 16. Continued movement of the film strip 42 causes anedge 81 of notch 62 to engage and force arm 78 and plate 70 in thedirection of movement of the strip causing a locking pawl 82 on plate 70to engage a ratchet wheel 84 secured to one end of shaft 38'. Thislocking of the film l8 and strip 42 occurs at the instant that the filmhas been advanced the correct length. Since shaft 38' is now locked, allload is transferred to seals 61 which now break. As the leader of leadtab 60 is detached from the strip 42, the ramp portion 66 on itstrailing end 63 which is guided between spaced flanges 83, 85 engagesand cams arm 78 outwardly out of notch 62 for releasing plate 70. Thereleased plate is urged by spring 80' to its normal position seen inFIG. 3 in which arm 78 is in engagement with the edge of strip 42, andlocking pawl 82 is disengaged from ratchet 84. The film has now beenmetered, and is ready for next exposure.

In'the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, parts similarto parts shown in the previous Figures will be denoted by the samenumerals primed. In this embodiment, the casing 10' and roll filmmetering assembly 12' are structurally different than the correspondingparts of FIG. 1 in order to support shaft 38' having axially spacedportions for taking up film 18' and metering strip 42' in roll form. Inthis embodiment, the casing 10 and film metering assembly 12 would haveto be altered to locate shaft 38 in slots 222 near the slit opening 45of casing 10' (FIG. 5), and film roll shaft 23' and film roll 24 (notshown) would be located in slots 22a'near the rear of casing 10'. Plate70' isof a slightly different configuration than plate 70 (FIG. 3), andis guided at one end relative to casing 10' by a pin 86 and slot 88connection, and in addition has a depending lug 90 adapted when releasedto ride on an edge of film 18. A long notch 62' is provided in theleading end 59' of each tab in register with a notch 64' in the trailingend 63' of a leader in the case of the first tab and a lead tab in thecase of succeeding adjacent tabs, and as soon as notches 62, 64' aremoved into register with an arm 92 on plate 70', spring 80' pivots theplate causing lug 90 to engage an edge of film 18'.

The notches 62, 64' are properly positioned on strip 42' so that thisaction occurs just prior to the advance of the film to its correctexposure position. At an instant before film 18 is advanced the correctincrement, lug 90 enters a notch 94 in the film and further advance ofstrip 42 and the film l8 forces locking pawl 82' into locking engagementwith ratchet 84', preventing any further advance of strip 42 or film18'. At this instant, the film 18 has been advanced a correct incrementfor an exposure. Continued pulling on the lead pull tab 60' detaches itfrom metering strip 42, and ramp portion 66 at one end of notch 64 ontrailing end 63' which is guided between spaced flanges 83', 85 cams arm92 outwardly releasing plate 70. Spring 80' returns plate 70' to itsnormal position seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 in which arm 92 is in engagementwith the edge of strip 42' and lug 90 is out of engagement with the edgeof film 18'. The film is now ready for exposure.

The :invention has been described in detail with particular reference topreferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variationsand modifica tions can be effected within the spirit and scope of theinvention as described hereinabove.

We claim:

1. In a strip-metering mechanism coupled to a film for automaticallysuccessively metering the film a predetermined increment, thecombination comprising:

means for supporting a film to be metered;

means including a pull strip disengaged from the film but coupled to thefilm supporting means and adapted when said pull strip is pulled toadvance the film; and

means continuously biased into engagement with said pull strip andresponsive to said pull strip as it is pulled for indicating when saidpull strip has advanced the film a predetermined increment.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said means responsive tosaid pull strip comprises a signalgenerating means.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said means responsive tosaid pull strip comprises a signalgenerating means, said pull striphaving means for conditioning said signal-generating means foroperation, and means on said pull strip for operating the conditionedsignal-generating means whereby a signal is generated indicating thatsaid pull strip has advanced the film a predetermined increment.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said signal-generatingmeans comprises a bell and a spring having a fixed end and a clappersecured to the opposite end adapted to ride on an edge of said pullstrip, said conditioning means on said pull strip comprises a ramp onsaid edge for moving said clapper to tension said spring, and saidoperating means on said pull strip comprises a notch adjacent said rampfor releasing said tensioned spring causing said clapper to strike saidbell generating an audible signal.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said means responsive tosaid pull strip comprises a striplocking means movable between lockedand unlocked positions.

6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said pull strip comprisesdetachable tabs in which a trailing end portion of a lead tab isreleasably connected in overlapped relation to the leading end portionof a succeeding tab, said means responsive to said pull strip comprisesa strip-locking means movable between locked and unlocked positions,said pull strip having first means on said overlapped end portions formoving said strip-locking means to its locked position at the instantsaid pull strip has advanced the film a predetermined increment, andsecond means on said trailing end portion adapted when said lead tab isdetached from said succeeding tab to release said locked striplockingmeans for movement to its unlocked position.

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said pull strip is woundon a shaft to which a ratchet is secured, said strip-locking meanscomprises a reciprocally and pivotally movable plate having an armbiased by a spring into engagement with said pull strip, said platehaving a pawl engageable with said ratchet, said first means comprises anotch engageable by said arm and adapted upon movement of said pullstrip to move said plate and urge said pawl into locking engagement withsaid ratchet, and said second means comprises a ramp for camming saidarm outwardly releasing said plate which is moved by said springunlocking said pawl from said ratchet.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said notch is in the edgeof said overlapped leading and trailing end portions of succeeding tabs,and said ramp is on said trailing end portion of a tab.

9. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said pull strip comprisesdetachable tabs in which a trailing end portion of a lead tab isreleasably connected in overlapped relation to the leading end portionof a succeeding tab, said means responsive to said pull strip comprisesstrip-locking means movable between locked and unlocked positions, meanson an edge of said film adapted upon movement of said film to engage andmove said strip-locking means to its locked position, first means on theoverlapped portion of said tabs for unlocking said strip-locking meansso that it is free to move into engagement with said edge of said film,and second means on said trailing end portion of a tab adapted when thetab is detached from said strip to release said locked strip-lockingmeans for movement to its unlocked position.

10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said pull strip is woundon a shaft to which a ratchet is secured, said strip-locking meanscomprises a reciprocally and pivotally movable plate having a first armbiased by a spring into engagement with said pull strip and a second armbiased by said spring into engagement with said film, said plate havinga pawl engageable with said ratchet, said first means on said stripcomprises a first notch engageable by said first arm, said engaging andmoving means on said film comprises a second notch engageable by saidsecond arm and adapted upon movement of said film to move said plate andurge said pawl into locking engagement with said ratchet, and saidsecond means on said strip comprises a ramp on said trailing end portionof a tab adapted when the tab is detached from the strip to cam saidfirst arm outwardly withdrawing said second arm from said second notchfor releasing said plate for movement'by said spring unlocking said pawlfrom said ratchet.

1. In a strip-metering mechanism coupled to a film for automaticallysuccessively metering the film a predetermined increment, thecombination comprising: means for supporting a film to be metered; meansincluding a pull strip disengaged from the film but coupled to the filmsupporting means and adapted when said pull strip is pulled to advanCethe film; and means continuously biased into engagement with said pullstrip and responsive to said pull strip as it is pulled for indicatingwhen said pull strip has advanced the film a predetermined increment. 2.The invention according to claim 1 wherein said means responsive to saidpull strip comprises a signal-generating means.
 3. The inventionaccording to claim 1 wherein said means responsive to said pull stripcomprises a signal-generating means, said pull strip having means forconditioning said signal-generating means for operation, and means onsaid pull strip for operating the conditioned signal-generating meanswhereby a signal is generated indicating that said pull strip hasadvanced the film a predetermined increment.
 4. The invention accordingto claim 3 wherein said signal-generating means comprises a bell and aspring having a fixed end and a clapper secured to the opposite endadapted to ride on an edge of said pull strip, said conditioning meanson said pull strip comprises a ramp on said edge for moving said clapperto tension said spring, and said operating means on said pull stripcomprises a notch adjacent said ramp for releasing said tensioned springcausing said clapper to strike said bell generating an audible signal.5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said means responsive tosaid pull strip comprises a strip-locking means movable between lockedand unlocked positions.
 6. The invention according to claim 1 whereinsaid pull strip comprises detachable tabs in which a trailing endportion of a lead tab is releasably connected in overlapped relation tothe leading end portion of a succeeding tab, said means responsive tosaid pull strip comprises a strip-locking means movable between lockedand unlocked positions, said pull strip having first means on saidoverlapped end portions for moving said strip-locking means to itslocked position at the instant said pull strip has advanced the film apredetermined increment, and second means on said trailing end portionadapted when said lead tab is detached from said succeeding tab torelease said locked strip-locking means for movement to its unlockedposition.
 7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said pull stripis wound on a shaft to which a ratchet is secured, said strip-lockingmeans comprises a reciprocally and pivotally movable plate having an armbiased by a spring into engagement with said pull strip, said platehaving a pawl engageable with said ratchet, said first means comprises anotch engageable by said arm and adapted upon movement of said pullstrip to move said plate and urge said pawl into locking engagement withsaid ratchet, and said second means comprises a ramp for camming saidarm outwardly releasing said plate which is moved by said springunlocking said pawl from said ratchet.
 8. The invention according toclaim 7 wherein said notch is in the edge of said overlapped leading andtrailing end portions of succeeding tabs, and said ramp is on saidtrailing end portion of a tab.
 9. The invention according to claim 1wherein said pull strip comprises detachable tabs in which a trailingend portion of a lead tab is releasably connected in overlapped relationto the leading end portion of a succeeding tab, said means responsive tosaid pull strip comprises strip-locking means movable between locked andunlocked positions, means on an edge of said film adapted upon movementof said film to engage and move said strip-locking means to its lockedposition, first means on the overlapped portion of said tabs forunlocking said strip-locking means so that it is free to move intoengagement with said edge of said film, and second means on saidtrailing end portion of a tab adapted when the tab is detached from saidstrip to release said locked strip-locking means for movement to itsunlocked position.
 10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein saidpull strip is wound on a shaft to which a ratchet is secured, saidstrip-locking means comprises a rEciprocally and pivotally movable platehaving a first arm biased by a spring into engagement with said pullstrip and a second arm biased by said spring into engagement with saidfilm, said plate having a pawl engageable with said ratchet, said firstmeans on said strip comprises a first notch engageable by said firstarm, said engaging and moving means on said film comprises a secondnotch engageable by said second arm and adapted upon movement of saidfilm to move said plate and urge said pawl into locking engagement withsaid ratchet, and said second means on said strip comprises a ramp onsaid trailing end portion of a tab adapted when the tab is detached fromthe strip to cam said first arm outwardly withdrawing said second armfrom said second notch for releasing said plate for movement by saidspring unlocking said pawl from said ratchet.